Discussion Paper
The Role of Manufacturing in the Rural Fifth District
Abstract: A manufacturing job became the pathway to a middle-class lifestyle for many American families in the decades immediately following World War II. Although the industry has suffered large employment losses since the 1970s, it remains a critical source of employment in rural America. This article explores historical trends in manufacturing employment in the United States and the Fifth District. Since the 1990s, despite a sharper decline in manufacturing employment in the district than in the United States, manufacturing in rural North Carolina, rural South Carolina, and rural Virginia composes a larger share of employment than in the nation. Additionally, since manufacturing jobs pay above the average wage in rural areas, employment growth in the sector benefits rural economies.
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Bibliographic Information
Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Part of Series: Regional Matters
Publication Date: 2022-04-28